A CONSTRUCTION worker was impaled on metal rods in an horrific accident while working on a building site in the centre of Birmingham.

A CONSTRUCTION worker was impaled on metal rods in an horrific accident while working on a building site in the centre of Birmingham.

The man, in his 30s, was taken to Selly Oak Hospital suffering from serious injuries to his stomach and chest after falling on to the reinforcing rods.

He was taken to hospital with part of the sawn off rod still inside his body.

Crew Commander Steve Harris, of West Midlands Fire Service said one spike had entered the man's left leg, going right up through his body and coming out by his right shoulder.

"Despite his ordeal, the man was conscious and had a lot of support from his colleagues and paramedics," he said.

The accident happened on the third floor of a construction site at the junction of Church Street and Cornwall Street opposite the PriceWaterhouseCoopers building.

Police officers closed roads around Great Charles Queensway after the accident just before 5pm last night to allow the air ambulance to land, but after paramedics worked on the man he was taken to hospital by ordinary ambulance

Mark Lawton, a spokesman for West Midland Fire Service, said: "The man was impaled on metal rods in his stomach and chest cavity. A doctor and paramedics were at the scene giving first aid.

"Fire service personnel were able to cut through the reinforcing bars under the direction of the doctor before the man was taken to hospital."

The rescue operation took just under an hour and the fire service's major rescue unit from West Bromwich also attended, along with four fire crews.

Mr Lawton added: "The scene of the accident has been preserved pending a possible health and safety investigation."